The Good Karma Network is an entertainment industry support group. We're here to help each other cast projects, get cast in projects, advertise the projects we get cast in, and share tips and tricks to succeeding in our field.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
GKN Update 8/30/10
Good morning! I hope everyone had a nifty weekend. I went camping for the first time in thirteen years! The weather was perfect and both the food & friends were plentiful. I had a fantastic time, but I caught my cabin mate's cold. Nothing a little juice & Vitamin C can't fix!
So, last week I was exploring Twitter (looking for VO work) and I stumbled upon this article:
http://blog.theparisreview.org/2010/08/17/searching-for-me
I sympathized with this guy because, like him, I was cast in Red Dead Redemption but my character was cut (but you can hear me at Benedict Point reciting some extra lines like "This place is deader than a side of bacon!").
For me, it's a funny story and I enjoyed it since I went on a similar ride. For others, it's a peak into the VO world, at least a small portion of it. Either way, it's a "slice of life" story and I find it fascinating how people can take different things away from the same experience.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Two things struck me when I read this article.
Holy socks, some of these people were downright vicious. I'm a geek and these nerds (yes, there is a difference!) give us a bad name. My advice is cliche but still holds true: if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. Especially in a public domain like the Internet.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Irony is hypocrisy with style. From the film “Looking for Richard”
STUFF!: I do my best to be positive and constructive here on the Good Karma Network, so please forgive me. I interact with the kind of people who posted those negative comments all the time at my friend's hobby store, so I know what makes them tick. One thing I can't stand is when a bunch of socially inept dorks viciously attack someone with no cause and skulk about in online anonymity. Just because they scored higher on standardized tests then most of us doesn't give them the right to write horrible things about people they don't even know. It's not my fault they'll never know a woman's touch! In short, these non-contributing zeros can go **** in their hat.
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News.
So, last week I was exploring Twitter (looking for VO work) and I stumbled upon this article:
http://blog.theparisreview.org/2010/08/17/searching-for-me
I sympathized with this guy because, like him, I was cast in Red Dead Redemption but my character was cut (but you can hear me at Benedict Point reciting some extra lines like "This place is deader than a side of bacon!").
For me, it's a funny story and I enjoyed it since I went on a similar ride. For others, it's a peak into the VO world, at least a small portion of it. Either way, it's a "slice of life" story and I find it fascinating how people can take different things away from the same experience.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Two things struck me when I read this article.
- These things happen and in the long run it's no big deal.
- People who comment online can be really, really mean!
Holy socks, some of these people were downright vicious. I'm a geek and these nerds (yes, there is a difference!) give us a bad name. My advice is cliche but still holds true: if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. Especially in a public domain like the Internet.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Irony is hypocrisy with style. From the film “Looking for Richard”
STUFF!: I do my best to be positive and constructive here on the Good Karma Network, so please forgive me. I interact with the kind of people who posted those negative comments all the time at my friend's hobby store, so I know what makes them tick. One thing I can't stand is when a bunch of socially inept dorks viciously attack someone with no cause and skulk about in online anonymity. Just because they scored higher on standardized tests then most of us doesn't give them the right to write horrible things about people they don't even know. It's not my fault they'll never know a woman's touch! In short, these non-contributing zeros can go **** in their hat.
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
GKN Weekly Update 8/23/10
And a happy, damp Monday to y'all!
I am a pooped camper! I haven't stopped moving since last Wednesday. I had a VO in Interlaken, NJ Thursday morning for a Homeland Security PSA. Then I drove straight to Newark Airport to pick up my mom (yes, she has officially moved from Florida!), then went to watch my friend's store in Denville until around 9:00 PM. What a day! All the time from then to now has involved the logistics of my mom's move along with working on the script for Blastaway, as well as VO auditions and bookings. This morning was a VO in Princeton and the moving truck just left a few minutes ago. Hopefully things will settle don't this week, but I doubt it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I do need to apologize to a few of you for not being around much these past few months. I try to keep the personal life personal and I won't go into detail but, remember when I said my clan was having issues? Well, most of it has been sorted out, mom's move being one of them. It's occupied quite a bit of energy and time and I'm sure that those of you who were affected will understand.
So, what have I learned? I'm big on communication and I'm happy to share my life but sometimes it's not the best thing to do. Sometimes you can't, even if you want to. Sometimes you just don't have the emotional capital to spend. Sometimes the logistics of life force you to make choices and people get left behind. Sometimes it sucks, but what can you do? Chin up, buck up, pucker up, and keep on keepin' on!
TIP OF THE WEEK: All art is the art of the impermanent. Peter O’Toole
STUFF!: I had my annual physical last Wednesday and my cholesterol level has gone from 285 in 2006 down to 169!!! Beat that with a stick...
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is tom Dheere, GKN news.
I am a pooped camper! I haven't stopped moving since last Wednesday. I had a VO in Interlaken, NJ Thursday morning for a Homeland Security PSA. Then I drove straight to Newark Airport to pick up my mom (yes, she has officially moved from Florida!), then went to watch my friend's store in Denville until around 9:00 PM. What a day! All the time from then to now has involved the logistics of my mom's move along with working on the script for Blastaway, as well as VO auditions and bookings. This morning was a VO in Princeton and the moving truck just left a few minutes ago. Hopefully things will settle don't this week, but I doubt it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I do need to apologize to a few of you for not being around much these past few months. I try to keep the personal life personal and I won't go into detail but, remember when I said my clan was having issues? Well, most of it has been sorted out, mom's move being one of them. It's occupied quite a bit of energy and time and I'm sure that those of you who were affected will understand.
So, what have I learned? I'm big on communication and I'm happy to share my life but sometimes it's not the best thing to do. Sometimes you can't, even if you want to. Sometimes you just don't have the emotional capital to spend. Sometimes the logistics of life force you to make choices and people get left behind. Sometimes it sucks, but what can you do? Chin up, buck up, pucker up, and keep on keepin' on!
TIP OF THE WEEK: All art is the art of the impermanent. Peter O’Toole
STUFF!: I had my annual physical last Wednesday and my cholesterol level has gone from 285 in 2006 down to 169!!! Beat that with a stick...
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is tom Dheere, GKN news.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
GKN Weekly Update 8/16/10
Hello, all! I hope you had a lovely weekend.
Last week's work consisted mostly of retakes for the last two sci-fi audio books I narrated for Infinivox: Mayflower II and The Political Officer. Retakes usually are needed for a few reasons:
Technical Issues (feedback, low gain, static, etc.)
Background Sounds
Script Errors
Me Being a Doofus (I mispronounced a word, inadvertently changed a word, inserted a word, flubbed an accent, or stressed the wrong word)
These are all common errors, many of which you can minimize.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Here's what you can do to minimize the amount of retakes needed:
Read the script. I know that sounds obvious, but I mean REALLY read the script. I try read it three times before I record. Once to enjoy it & understand the story, once to break down the characters, and once to review spelling and grammar.
Ask questions. If I'm not sure about something, I ask the publisher. If he's not sure, he contacts the author and gets back to me. Once in a while you may get to talk to the author directly, but I'm not always sure that's best. Writing something and reading it aloud are two different disciplines and it's the publisher's job to bridge them.
Take notes. I always build a pronunciation guide. Sci-fi stories tend to have a lot a big real words and even more fake words, some of which don't feel organic. Get the correct pronunciations and practice them. Also, I like using accents so I track how each character speaks and make sure I get the subtleties right.
Have fun! If you do your homework and enjoy the session, your acting will shine through.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Listen to the song of life. Katherine Hepburn
STUFF!: What is your favorite audio book?
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...
Last week's work consisted mostly of retakes for the last two sci-fi audio books I narrated for Infinivox: Mayflower II and The Political Officer. Retakes usually are needed for a few reasons:
Technical Issues (feedback, low gain, static, etc.)
Background Sounds
Script Errors
Me Being a Doofus (I mispronounced a word, inadvertently changed a word, inserted a word, flubbed an accent, or stressed the wrong word)
These are all common errors, many of which you can minimize.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Here's what you can do to minimize the amount of retakes needed:
Read the script. I know that sounds obvious, but I mean REALLY read the script. I try read it three times before I record. Once to enjoy it & understand the story, once to break down the characters, and once to review spelling and grammar.
Ask questions. If I'm not sure about something, I ask the publisher. If he's not sure, he contacts the author and gets back to me. Once in a while you may get to talk to the author directly, but I'm not always sure that's best. Writing something and reading it aloud are two different disciplines and it's the publisher's job to bridge them.
Take notes. I always build a pronunciation guide. Sci-fi stories tend to have a lot a big real words and even more fake words, some of which don't feel organic. Get the correct pronunciations and practice them. Also, I like using accents so I track how each character speaks and make sure I get the subtleties right.
Have fun! If you do your homework and enjoy the session, your acting will shine through.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Listen to the song of life. Katherine Hepburn
STUFF!: What is your favorite audio book?
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
GKN Weekly Update 8/9/10
Happy Monday, campers! I just dropped off my car at the mechanic and walked home. It was only about ten minutes but it felt I was crawling under a chicken coop!
Craig's List strikes again! I got cast for a Kindle commercial contest entry. Here it is:
Kindle Contest Spot
I'll let you know if it wins!
My latest audio book "The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction 2" got it's first reviews! Check it out here.
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, I was going to rant about how I went to a gig a few weeks ago, worked with three very nice actors, handed out my card & talked about the GKN, and haven't heard from any of them. I was going to spout about them not understanding how important networking is in this industry and how they won't get anywhere but, you know what? It took me YEARS to figure it out. Who am I to judge? Everyone moves at their own pace, everyone learns at their own pace, and nobody likes to be judged or told what to do.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I think people that read tabloids deserve to be lied to. Jerry Seinfeld
STUFF!: This suddenly popped in my head and I can't get it out!
Eeep Op Ork Ah Ah!!!
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News.
Craig's List strikes again! I got cast for a Kindle commercial contest entry. Here it is:
Kindle Contest Spot
I'll let you know if it wins!
My latest audio book "The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction 2" got it's first reviews! Check it out here.
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, I was going to rant about how I went to a gig a few weeks ago, worked with three very nice actors, handed out my card & talked about the GKN, and haven't heard from any of them. I was going to spout about them not understanding how important networking is in this industry and how they won't get anywhere but, you know what? It took me YEARS to figure it out. Who am I to judge? Everyone moves at their own pace, everyone learns at their own pace, and nobody likes to be judged or told what to do.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I think people that read tabloids deserve to be lied to. Jerry Seinfeld
STUFF!: This suddenly popped in my head and I can't get it out!
Eeep Op Ork Ah Ah!!!
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
GKN Weekly Update 8/2/10
Happy August! The dog days are here, my friends. Let's hope this month is cooler than the last one...
So I got a call from a client last week. This is a client that hadn't paid me for a project I helped them cast. As it turns out, the client hadn't paid me yet because they were tallying up the total amount they owed me based on the number of times they used the talent that I sent their way for other projects. Not only am I getting paid for the one project I thought I'd have to take a loss on, but I'm getting more than I thought!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I am very fortunate that I have never had to "eat" a gig because the client didn't pay up. I have heard many horror stories of my peers getting hosed by a client and I count my blessings. For you new talents out there, you need to do a few things to make sure you get paid:
1) Watermark your auditions or only submit a sample of the script for consideration so they can't use it.
2) Document all compensation agreements, even if you just save the email confirming the rate. If it was agreed to over the phone, send a confirmation email detailing the rate, form of payment, technical requirements, and deadline.
3) Invoice the client immediately. Make sure you breakdown the compensation structure, expected turnaround, etc.
4) Don't be afraid to follow up! Just make sure you do it in a reasonable and professional manner. For example, if the cycle is 30 days, give it 30 days plus a week for the check to process, print, and get mailed to you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Let the small stuff go. Charles Grodin
STUFF!: My old friend Jason Yudoff and his band The New Hotness is performing this week. I've seen them live and they are the shiz-nit!!!
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News.
So I got a call from a client last week. This is a client that hadn't paid me for a project I helped them cast. As it turns out, the client hadn't paid me yet because they were tallying up the total amount they owed me based on the number of times they used the talent that I sent their way for other projects. Not only am I getting paid for the one project I thought I'd have to take a loss on, but I'm getting more than I thought!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I am very fortunate that I have never had to "eat" a gig because the client didn't pay up. I have heard many horror stories of my peers getting hosed by a client and I count my blessings. For you new talents out there, you need to do a few things to make sure you get paid:
1) Watermark your auditions or only submit a sample of the script for consideration so they can't use it.
2) Document all compensation agreements, even if you just save the email confirming the rate. If it was agreed to over the phone, send a confirmation email detailing the rate, form of payment, technical requirements, and deadline.
3) Invoice the client immediately. Make sure you breakdown the compensation structure, expected turnaround, etc.
4) Don't be afraid to follow up! Just make sure you do it in a reasonable and professional manner. For example, if the cycle is 30 days, give it 30 days plus a week for the check to process, print, and get mailed to you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Let the small stuff go. Charles Grodin
STUFF!: My old friend Jason Yudoff and his band The New Hotness is performing this week. I've seen them live and they are the shiz-nit!!!
From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)